Friday, August 31, 2012

The granny square sewing machine cover which I started back in July is finally finished.

I have just quilted it in straight lines on the diagonal, then backed and bound it in dark grey, using some yellow measuring tape ribbon for the side ties.

I was going to make it double sided but I love these fabrics so much that I just wanted to always have them showing.

So my Singer is now happily sitting under in this sewing machine cover which was totally inspired by the lovely one Debbie made for her daughter. And as Debbie had also sent me these very cool Stitch in Color prints when we swapped fabrics recently, it was quite appropriate that I use them for this project:)

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

I know that I am not alone in finding it difficult to find masculine quilt fabrics and patterns suitable for the men in our life. The only one I have done so far is a quilt I made for my dad last year for his 70th birthday using Sweetwaters "Authentic", which was a perfect choice as the numbers were just right for his love of Sudoku:)

So now I am trying to gather ideas to make a decent sized "manly" quilt for each of my teenage sons. I have a FQ set of Curious Nature here and I would like to make them something that will last them as they grow older.

I was fortunate enough to win a copy of Emily Herricks amazing "Geared for Guys" book recently too - there are lots of wonderful ideas for "guy" quilts in the book. My favourite one in the book is the Urban Decay quilt by John at Quilt Dad which is featured on the cover, although the "Gamer" quilt is awesome too and would be perfect for my youngest son.

The mosaic above is from some of my flickr favourites - I especially love the 2 Plus quilts in the middle that Carla made. I made a Plus quilt last year and I really love it so I am keen to make another one (or two). It is almost spring here now in Australia so I hope to have them ready for winter next year.......and maybe do one for my hubby for our 20th anniversary next year too.Kirsten.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

After stalking checking out my secret partner's DUDQS mosiac, flickr faves and profile, I have finally made a start on her mini quilt, which isn't due to be sent off until October.

I have chosen a few colours that I am pretty sure she likes and am gong to try and make something that I haven't done before - I am a bit nervous about it all so will need to wait and see if it actually works out.

Monday, August 20, 2012

As usual, we seem to have a few Aussie only prints - the salmony colour on the bottom print is really lovely, and the stripes would be perfect for binding. There is a photo of the ones available in the US here.

Some of these prints are on a black background so they are a bit more masculine in style and colour - they remind me a bit of the Greenfield Hill range.

Sign-ups for the swap have now closed so we should find out our secret partners for the DS doll quilt swap later this week - and also the theme of the swap this time around.Can't wait:)Kirsten.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Hi and welcome if you are visiting from the Let's Get Acquainted Blop Hop! Today I have a tutorial for a handy fabric lanyard that could be used to hang a number of things - keys, id tags, and thread snips to name a few.

You will need: Basic sewing equipment - cutting mat. rotary cutter, acrylic quilters ruler, sewing machine, pins.At least 4 x 42 inches of fabric - I am using some cute elephant fabrics similar to the Daiwabo ones, in a white on navy, and a red on white.

And some key ring hardware - such as a large lobster clasp key ring, a swivel or a snap hook, or a split key ring. I found the ones I have used in the bag making section at the craft store.

1. Start by squaring up the edge of your fabric by lining it up with the selvedge and repeatedly folding up the flat bottom edge to meet up with the selvedge until it is wide enough for you to be able to lay it on your cutting mat with one of the marked lines on your quilters ruler lined up with the lower straight edge of the fabric.

2. Cut a width of fabric (WOF) strip about 2.5 - 3 inches wide. Trim off the selvedges so that you end up with a strip about 3 x 42 " wide.

3. Fold the trip in half lengthways and iron flat.

4. Open the strip out again and fold one side so that the raw edge meets the crease in the centre, and press.

5. Repeat for the other side.

6. Fold over so that the raw edges are enclosed in the fold.

7.Press and pin along the length of the fold.

8. Lay the folded strip out flat and slide your key ring or clasp onto it, moving it a little way along.

9. Open out the two ends of the folded strip and pin them right sides together without twisting the strip of fabric.

10. Pin and stitch the ends closed with a half inch seam - you should now have a joined loop/ circle of fabric.

11 . Press the seam open and fold raw edges back in. Press again and repin.

12. You should have a loop about 42 inches long and 1/2 inch wide.

13. Stitch along each side of the lanyard close to the edges, moving the clasp along the strip as you sew so that it isn't in the way.

14. Press again if needed, and your lanyard is ready to use!

15. I made another patchwork version by cutting some 2.5 inch pieces of fabric,

and joining them together with a half inch seam to make a strip approximately 2.5 x 40", then proceeding from step 3 above.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial! These would make great gifts for teachers, party favours, stocking stuffers, and even for school fetes or stalls.Kirsten.

Hi and welcome if you are visiting from the Let's Get Acquainted! Blog Hop organised by Beth from Plum and June. Today it is my turn to introduce myself - my name is Kirsten and live in the beautiful Northern Rivers regions of NSW, Australia, not far from Byron Bay. I have 3 teenage children who are at high school, and a grey tabby cat named Simba who can't keep himself out of trouble. I work part time as a Medical Scientist in a pathology laboratory which still leaves me a few days each week for sewing.

Here are my answers to a few questions from Beth so that you may find out a bit more about me.

- How long have you been quilting - about 3 years now.The first quilt I made was a "Stack and Slash" style quilt using some fabrics I bought from a craft fair, but I like making quilts in a more modern style now.

- Favorite quilting tip: I have really enjoyed participating in flickr swaps and quilt-alongs which are a great way to get to try out new techniques, so if you haven't been in any of them yet I can thoroughly recommend jumping in and joining one as they are a lot of fun.

- Favorite blogging tip: K.I.S.S - Keep It Short (and) Simple, and I also prefer to mainly blog about crafty matters, and only occasionally deviate from that.

- Favorite fabric: Echo by Lotta Jansdotter - I have just used it recently for a little project........

- Favorite craft book: Elizabeth Hartmann's "The Practical Guide To Patchwork". - Favorite book: "Outlander" (released as Cross Stitch in the UK) which is the first book in The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. - Favorite quilting tool: Walking foot as I like to do straight line quilting.

- Favorite music to listen to while quilting: Glee soundtracks - I love the remakes of some old favourites.- Favorite TV show while hand stitching: Revenge, or an Aussie show called Offspring.- Binding - by hand or by machine? Usually by machine but I have recently done some by hand and I really enjoyed it so maybe I will do it this way from now on.

- If I'd only known - what you wish you knew about blogging before you started your blog:How lovely the online quilting/blogging community is. I have "met" so many nice and generous people from all over the world via blogs.I have a tutorial to make a fabric lanyard which you can find over here, and please pop over and visit Stephanie who is also on the Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop today.Kirsten.

Friday, August 3, 2012

It is sometimes difficult to find reasonably priced designer fabrics here in Australia - and there are also the times when you need something in a hurry and can't wait for it to arrive from overseas. There are a few local (Australian) etsy shops though that have a wonderful range of designer fabrics, and one of them is Fresh Fabrics Australia (FFA). The owner, Carrie- Ann has some gorgeous fabrics in her etsy shop - I have already bought this lovely Joel Dewberry Heirloom bundle in Citrine, as well as some "Echo" and Amy Butler "Lark" fabrics. A few of the new Amy Butler "Cameo" fabrics have just been added to the store too. Carrie- Ann was kind enough to invite me to put together a "Guest Bundle" for this month.

I started with the Anna Maria Horner Lou Louthi Summer Totem print and chose a few coordinating fabrics to go with it, including some Denyse Schmidt "Flea Market Fancy" fabrics as she is one of my favourite designers. The fabrics (from top to bottom) in the bundle are: